Rating: 
Summary: If you take it as fantasy...
Review: The odd thing about Free Willy is that it's a film which makes money using a captive animal to do tricks--and it's about the evils of capturing animals to do tricks for money. The film came out at the same time as and with the same mentality of its partner-in-ideology Jurassic Park (using technology to make money by condemning the use of technology to make money).If you can get over that, it's a beautiful piece of work. The best part is Basil Poledouris' wonderous score, which should have been released on its own without all the clutter of pop songs.
Rating: 
Summary: Good ol' fashioned famiy films!
Review: The plot's as basic as my reviews! A former-ganger wants to free a whale from a SeaWorld. At the end, they try to kill him by draining th water, but the boy stops them with a couplea SeaWorld employees. See, good plot. This is from the golden age of family media. So, on a Friday night, you're young family hasn't got anything to do, pop this in!
Rating: 
Summary: Freedom
Review: The reason this film is so moving is because it is about freedom. We all value freedom and the human spirit longs to be free. Animals are born to run free, on the earth or in the sea. The thought of trapping a whale in a tank just large enough for dolphins seems rather cruel. So, we cheer on, as a 12-year-old spunky street kid makes freeing this beautiful Orca whale possible. Jesse is the star of this movie and is at first a troubled kid who keeps thinking his mother will come back to take him home. Willy is the whale who was also taken from his family, so the two find common ground. When Willy saves Jesse's life, they form a bond of friendship and Jesse is the only one who can train the whale. The owner of the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Park plots to get insurance money by destroying the tank and when Jesse hears of the plans he has to race against time to save his friend. The scenes of the Pacific Northwest are spectacular and the whales playfully dancing in the water is a pure display of joy. These are truly on of God's most magnificent creations. Keiko, a 7,000-pound Orca is the whale star, but they also have back-up from a full-sized "animatronic" whale. I could not tell the difference between the whales, it was that good. One of the best parts of the film is when Jesse spends his pocket money to buy the whale his favorite treat, salmon. I just thought that showed Jesse's true character. While he acts tough on the outside, he seems to be fascinated with nature and animals and that brings out his more loving side. Throughout the movie, the theme of family is very important and I think that might be why this film is such a favorite. There is a music video at the beginning of this video and there is also information for children about helping save whales from becoming extinct. Overall, I felt this was a great movie for children and adults and it teaches such great lessons: that we all need a family and that we should respect animals. I was captivated from beginning to end. A wonderful movie for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: I love this movie
Review: They did not go through too much trouble to save the whale. Whales are one of the most beautiful creatures in the world and this movie showed how beautiful they are. It has an original plot and a great ending. I have seen this movie a lot of times and I never get tired of it.
Rating:
Summary: A solid film
Review: this film is a great solid picture.better than the other two follow ups.Keiko the Whale has alot of Chemistry.Jason Richter is solid as well.The Michael Jackson song was Will You Be There.it works well for this film.
Rating:
Summary: Keiko Rest In Peace
Review: This is one of my favorite movies of all time! This movie was such a success that there was a fanclub started for the star Keiko (played Willy) This movie educated a lot of people on what really goes on in the sea park industry and because of that a fanclub was created and their mission was to release Keiko into the wild after living captive since about 1979. He eventually was released after several years of preparation. I have been sadened to learn that the star of Free Willy, Keiko died 12/12/03....He still loved the interaction with the human beings he had contact with in the wild and because of the movie Free Willy he was allowed to go from the poor conditions in a Mexico city aquarium to swimming in his own natural environment in Norway. I will cherish this movie for years to come and share it with my children.
Rating:
Summary: Willy!
Review: This is one of the best family movies of the 90's, and when the sequels failed, the original is really worth watching, with it's beautyful settings, the touching music, the good acting, and a lovely story about friendship and freedom.
The backdraws of the movie, are Michael jackson's song, and that the movie is slowing down manyh times.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best!
Review: This movie is, by far, my favorite movie of all time. It's a story of overcoming life's most difficult ordeals and how good friends can help anyone overcome any situation. It's so inspiring and I cry every time I see it. You will want to stand up and cheer...this film is pure magic!
Rating: 
Summary: stupid whale
Review: Went in to too much trouble to save the whale. The kid did. They should of killed the whale and ate it.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect family entertainment!
Review: Whales are a source of constant wonderment and awe for millions of people all over the world, which is what makes "Free Willy" such an awesome flick. The movie chronicles the friendship and tribulation of a boy and a 7,000-pound orca whale, instantly winning over our hearts with its family oriented entertainment. The characters are a division of the likeable and the despised, with a story that pits man against nature and proves to be a race for survival. Jesse is a troubled preteen boy who, after caught by the police for spray-painting graffiti at a waterpark, is taken to live with Glen and Annie Greenwood, who welcome him despite his detached attitude. Forced to clean up the mess he's made, he soon finds himself fascinated by the mere presence of the park's giant orca, Willy, and the two quickly become friends. Jesse is the only one Willy will respond to, which makes the whale's greedy owner ecstatic, as well as surprising the park's owner, Randolph, and the trainer, Ray. The owner soon makes plans to put Willy in the spotlight, which draws a large and noisy crowd, giving Willy a severe case of stage fright and causing the show to fail. Since Willy brings in no revenue, the owner capitalizes on the fact that Willy is worth $1 million in insurance money, and plots to have him killed. At this point, the movie becomes a race against time as Jesse, Randolph, Ray, Glen and Annie struggle to take Willy back to his natural habitat. First and foremost, what makes this movie a big success is the animal character, Willy, which, with the exception of scenes in which Jesse comes into actual contact with him, is a real whale named Keiko. The whale performs some amazing stunts that are not new to anyone who's paid a visit to Sea World, but certainly have not lost their luster. Animals can be trained to do lots of things, and the movie proves that no matter how many times you watch some of these stunts, they still prove to be awe-inspiring even later. I found that it was not so much the stunts the mammal performed that intrigued me as much as it was the increasingly connective bond between Willy and Jesse. Perhaps it is the circumstances which bring them together that is what cements their friendship: in the beginning, Willy is taken from a family of whales out in the ocean, who pay visits to him while he is captive. Jesse is also an orphan, abandoned by his mother as a young boy. Their backgrounds give good reason for their understanding of one another, which is not merely a fable of fiction. The movie's appeal is furthered through its deeper meanings and themes, which are simple enough for children to understand. Jesse and Willy's friendship tells a powerful message about the bonds and the circumstances that shape them, and the resolve of the characters to save him in the end proves that human strength overcomes any situation, perilous or no. This simplicity will appeal to the younger and older sets without compromising its standards as a family film. The cast interacts well with one another, and heading up the ensemble is Jason James Richter as Jesse, who plays the troubled teen syndrome to perfection. His change from mischievous to good-natured is convincing because of his friendship with the whale as well as the acting. August Schellenberg plays Randolph, the park owner with an Indian background. Glen is played by Michael Madsen, who plays him as stern and unrelenting in trying times. This provides a bit of angst between he and Jesse, which is interesting to watch. Ray is played by Lori Petty, and Annie is played by Jayne Atkinson, who is gentle and kind in the role. "Free Willy" is solid family entertainment that delivers a power-punch story for children and adult enjoyment. The whale alone is enough to watch the film for, while the story never fails in delivering one good performance and twist after another. Sit down with everyone and enjoy the ride; it's just a good movie!
| 
